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Esther 1 RSV - King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti - Bible Gateway

First chapter of the book of Esther

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47 views2 pages

Esther 1 RSV - King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti - Bible Gateway

First chapter of the book of Esther

Uploaded by

MK
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Esther 1 Revised Standard Version

King Ahasuerus Deposes Queen Vashti

1 In the days of Ahasu-e′rus, the Ahasu-e′rus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over one
hundred and twenty-seven provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasu-e′rus sat on his royal
throne in Susa the capital, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his
princes and servants, the army chiefs[a] of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of
the provinces being before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the
splendor and pomp of his majesty for many days, a hundred and eighty days. 5 And when
these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the capital,
both great and small, a banquet lasting for seven days, in the court of the garden of the
king’s palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and blue hangings caught up with cords of
fine linen and purple to silver rings[b] and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver
on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and precious stones. 7 Drinks
were served in golden goblets, goblets of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished
according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to the law, no one was
compelled; for the king had given orders to all the officials of his palace to do as every man
desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the palace which belonged to
King Ahasu-e′rus.

10 On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded
Mehu′man, Biztha, Harbo′na, Bigtha and Abag′tha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs
who served King Ahasu-e′rus as chamberlains, 11 to bring Queen Vashti before the king with
her royal crown, in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty; for she was fair to
behold. 12 But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king’s command conveyed by the
eunuchs. At this the king was enraged, and his anger burned within him.

13 Then the king said to the wise men who knew the times—for this was the king’s
procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment, 14 the men next to him being
Carshe′na, Shethar, Adma′tha, Tarshish, Meres, Marse′na, and Memu′can, the seven princes
of Persia and Media, who saw the king’s face, and sat first in the kingdom—: 15 “According
to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the
command of King Ahasu-e′rus conveyed by the eunuchs?” 16 Then Memu′can said in
presence of the king and the princes, “Not only to the king has Queen Vashti done wrong,
but also to all the princes and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasu-
e′rus. 17 For this deed of the queen will be made known to all women, causing them to look
with contempt upon their husbands, since they will say, ‘King Ahasu-e′rus commanded
Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’ 18 This very day the ladies
of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen’s behavior will be telling it to all the
king’s princes, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty. 19 If it please the king, let a
royal order go forth from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the
Medes so that it may not be altered, that Vashti is to come no more before King Ahasu-
e′rus; and let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she. 20 So when
the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, vast as it is, all
women will give honor to their husbands, high and low.” 21 This advice pleased the king and
the princes, and the king did as Memu′can proposed; 22 he sent letters to all the royal
provinces, to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that
every man be lord in his own house and speak according to the language of his people.

Footnotes

a. Esther 1:3 Heb the army


b. Esther 1:6 Or rods

Nehemiah 13 Esther 2

Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971
the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the
Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission.
All rights reserved.

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